Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, hits a overhead return against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP104 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, hits a overhead return against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, returns the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP105 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, returns the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

Image 3 of 22

Tennis fans watch the Springfield Lasers, play the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP117 less

Tennis fans watch the Springfield Lasers, play the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Jessica Macaluso, left, and her mother Lisa Macaluso of Clifton Park, N.Y., watch Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, play the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP115 less

Jessica Macaluso, left, and her mother Lisa Macaluso of Clifton Park, N.Y., watch Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, play the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Tennis fans watch the Springfield Lasers, play the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP116 less

Tennis fans watch the Springfield Lasers, play the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Keveta Peschke of the New York Sportimes returns a ball against the Springfield Lasers, in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP114 less

Keveta Peschke of the New York Sportimes returns a ball against the Springfield Lasers, in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Keveta Peschke of the New York Sportimes returns a ball against the Springfield Lasers, in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP113 less

Keveta Peschke of the New York Sportimes returns a ball against the Springfield Lasers, in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Jesse Witten of the New York Sportimes returns the ball against the Springfield Lasers, in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP112 less

Jesse Witten of the New York Sportimes returns the ball against the Springfield Lasers, in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Robert Kendrick of the New York Sportimes hits a return against the Springfield Lasers, during a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP111 less

Robert Kendrick of the New York Sportimes hits a return against the Springfield Lasers, during a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Robert Kendrick of the New York Sportimes makes a play at the net against the Springfield Lasers, during a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP110 less

Robert Kendrick of the New York Sportimes makes a play at the net against the Springfield Lasers, during a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Robert Kendrick of the New York Sportimes makes a play at the net against the Springfield Lasers, during a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP109 less

Robert Kendrick of the New York Sportimes makes a play at the net against the Springfield Lasers, during a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Andy Roddick ,left and Jean Julien Rojer of the Springfield Lasers, celebrate a point against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP108 less

Andy Roddick ,left and Jean Julien Rojer of the Springfield Lasers, celebrate a point against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, misses a return by Jesse Witten of the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP107 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, misses a return by Jesse Witten of the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, serves the ball to Jesse Witten of the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP106 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, serves the ball to Jesse Witten of the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, returns the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP103 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, returns the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

Image 19 of 22

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, returns the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP102 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, returns the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis doubles match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, serves the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP101 less

Andy Roddick of the Springfield Lasers, serves the ball against the New York Sportimes in a World Team Tennis match at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Passion for game endures

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Albany

It wasn't Centre Court at Wimbledon, but rather the basketball court at the University at Albany.

The green (and yellow) grass was replaced by a brown, blue, green and red hardcourt. The line calls were slow, and so was some of the action.

None of that seemed to bother Andy Roddick and the 1,200 or so who came to see him Tuesday night at SEFCU Arena in the World TeamTennis home opener for the New York Sportimes.

Roddick, the former world No. 1, led the Springfield (Mo.) Lasers (1-1) into town, where they lost 22-21 to the Sportimes.

"It's the best I can hope for right now, to still be involved and play the game that I have loved for so long," said Roddick, who retired after last year's U.S. Open. "It's nice to have these weeks where I actually feel like I'm useful again."

He displayed brief flashes of the form he displayed in making the finals of five Grand Slam events, but the name on the marquee was all that mattered.

One of Roddick's best moments came between points of a singles match against the Sportimes' Jesse Witten. The crowd was non-responsive when the public-address system blared, "Who Let the Dogs Out?"

Roddick stopped and ordered the music clip to be played again, and the crowd finally responded with a "Woof! Woof!"

During a news conference at Schuyler Meadows Club in Loudonville, where he gave an afternoon junior clinic during the day, Roddick explained his approach to the team game.

"I try to encourage all of the players to be a lot more interactive, make it fun, make it a show," said Roddick, who played WTT matches in six seasons while active on the ATP Tour. "You don't see whatever song being played between points at the U.S. Open. What we need to do is deliver a different tennis product."

Roddick, 30, played in two of the five matches. He and Jean-Julien Rojer beat Robert Kendrick and Witten in men's doubles, 5-4. Roddick lost in singles to Witten 5-4 on a 23-stroke rally on the final point of a tiebreaker.

"It was quite the rally there," said Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion. "Something about me, New York and drama."

Earlier in the tiebreaker, Witten uttered a loud profanity after missing a shot. Witten has a career-high singles ranking of No. 163, or 162 spots lower than Roddick in his heyday.

"He's an ambassador for the game," Witten said. "He's one of the best players ever."

The heyday has gone by for Roddick, who begins a role as an analyst for the fledgling Fox Sports 1 network next month. He believes his exit from competitive tennis was well-timed.

"They're a lot better now than when I was playing at my best," he said. "You look at these guys, and they don't have a lot of weaknesses. The type of athlete that it takes to be 1-2-3 in the world right now is superior to what it's been in the past."

It was the first of five home matches the Sportimes (1-2) will play at UAlbany, all in a 10-day span. The team's final two home dates are scheduled for Randall's Island in Manhattan.

"I sleep well knowing I got the most out of what I had," Roddick said. "I don't think I was ever going to be as talented or as good as Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal) and those guys. The fact that I got them on some days was pretty good."